The Arkansaw traveler., 1887-06-25

The only thing left for me to do was to get down as quickly as could, and before nightfall if possible.
 knew it was impossible to follow the course had taken in coming up, but fancied that 1 could certainly make my way down anywhere, even if l found myself long distance from the hotel.
 had not gone fifty yards when reached deep gulch that yawned at my feet. tried another course, but imnense powders and Assures pre- sented themselves as obstacles. With sinking heart I saw the evening mists rising slowly from the ground, shrouding the trees and rocks with their thick, dark veil.
 have heard that people who lose themselves also lose their senses. I was no exception to the general rule, or should not have fatigued myself by dashing about to right or left aim lessly. The utter silence and loncli- ness were so fearful up there that even the sound of my own footsteps was grateful to my ears.
 I called out now and then, but there was no echo to my voice-it seemed to sink untitled in the ground. To add to my dismay, a long, deep roll of thunder shook the earth.
 1 knew by that time people were out seeking for me, but l knew, too, that had wandered so far that the chances were slight that 1 would be found before morning, if then. I strained my ears to hear some distant sound, and, sinking at the foot of a tree, 1 uttered scream after scream.
 Suddenly and noiselessly, as being of the mist itself, figure stood before me. 1t was almost sundown; and, in an opening, the form of tall, slim girl, barefoot, and with a shawl tied over her head, stood out against the sky.
 "Thank heaven!" cried, springing up. "Pve been lost for hours. You can guide me from this terrible place."
 ''l kem to see dad and man." she said, in soft, monotonous voice; "but the mounting got wrapped up in fog, and l sortev got lost over wander in the gorge. When you called out, thought maybe it was them a-wantin me. But it ain't," she ended, with a heavy sigh.
 Do your parents live near here?" asked. Do take me to them, and if it is too late for me to return to the hotel, perhaps they will lodge me to- night. lam drenched by the fog, and I feel ill.,"
 She paused long time, and impa- tient as was, the strange look in her great solemn eyes gave me a queer sensation.
 "You can't see 'em," she said. "They lives way up the mounting, under the big powders, and they has no fire to warm you. They don't want no strangers round"
 But surely you're not going to leave me here." was getting fright ened at the girls strange ways. "Take me where you live, and 1 will pay any one well who will guide me home."
 "I lives down wander, with Auntie Becker" she said, pointing through the mist.
 Well, take me to Auntie Becker, or anywhere" cried, thoroughly un- nervcd.
 was so distressed at my own situ- ation, that paid no attention to the singularity of the girls parents choos- ing the top of q bleak mountain for a habitation. and living under the bowl ders, as she said. This mountain girl seemed to me rather idiotic. D,,t k. T q l. l steered her way through the stones and fog with celcrity and ease that were marvellous. l kept close to her, and sometimes when the outlines of her figure became indistinguishab in the fog and gathering darkness, l would call her to stop. She did so silently, but it was impossible to en- gage her ill conversation. , All my questions, but one, met with that same blank silence. happened to remark that her parents must find , it very cold ill the winter, and she 1 laughed derisively.
 "'Tain't cold on the mounting when . you has piles of leaves and straw fur a kiver, and light wood knots ter build a fire. kindles 'em, an we has rous- ing fires when goes up the mounting to keep company with dad and man. , There's Auntie Becker's now" A blessed sense of relief came to me : when l saw bright light streaming out, some little distance below us, and l at the time gave little attention to s the girls strange words. The maid of the mist had proved safe guide, 3 after all. We reached clearing, and 9 then found ourselves before small cottage.
 3 The door was open, and tall, gaunt woman stepped out hurriedly to meet